How To Know If You're An Intermediate Guitarist (And why it's important)
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- čas přidán 9. 05. 2024
- How To Know If You're An Intermediate Guitarist
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What is a great guitarist ? Is it someone that can shred like crazy ? Is it someone that knows all the chords ? Or someone creative and orginal ? I have friend who is really good, can solo very well and is fast, awesome guitarist. Is he than better than say, David Gilmour ? For me the creative guitar players are the best. Like Gilmour, Frusciante, Morello….
That is a fantastic question, to me a great Guitarist is one who is able to make real, the music he hears in his head, play it cleanly, and make it his own.
I agree. A great guitarist can create music from his influences.
I always refer to this exact philosophy you are talking about… guitars stores are full of 16 year olds who can play the entire passion and warfare album note for note. But are merely photocopy machines, ultra technical - yes, able to write original music, can improvise - no. After a certain level technique becomes less important and the players choice of notes at a certain time is far more important.
It's not sport, it's art. All subjective.
Great question
For me, a great guitar player can sit down and play with anyone without having to ask what key they're playing in.
A great player will enhance the other guitarist. He knows he could blow them away, but rather play with them then to just play for himself.
Why is my category, 'Shite Guitarist', not covered in this video. A terrible oversight, sir!!!
:-) If you're in to that category, you can only improve yourself.
@@mlambrechts1 45 years of disappointment says otherwise. But I still love playing.
I’m sure you don’t really fall under that category, maybe you just need some encouragement!
I’ll tell you what, DM me a link to your playing on my Instagram page @rob_chappers and I will hit you back with some tips
@@RobChappersthat’s really cute and wholesome. Interesting video!
@@RobChappers Hey, Rob, very kind of you. DM coming later this evening.
I'm just a hobbyist guitar player, never going to play on a stage or with anyone else. It's just something fun and relaxing to do after a long day. I know enough to get around the fretboard and make some nice sounds, and I can play a few songs, that's all I really need to be happy.
I have played a lot and have been with a drummer or another guitarist to jam and those skills are ok but my theory and knowledge is horrible so I'm kind of all over the board.... eh, whatever works for you. My judgemental, opinionated years are long behind me. You'll get no hate from me.
Playing by or for yourself is loads of fun, but if you run across a couple of like minded guys play with others is a lot of fun. Know body says we have to be great, just have fun.
Most guitarists today are, they just film themselves with a nice camera and cheap lighting from Amazon and start CZcams channels. Which you should as well
Same - Just play my favourite jams in the basement
Quite a bit of waffle going on !
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is very strong with guitarists
Excellent point!
Specially with the guy who made the video! Kkkk
_Fake it 'til you make it_ has its benefits.
Sure and that's why all intermediat players are thinking they are advanced players, and everyone else calls himself dabbling a bit in the art of guitar, but still being a beginner. ;-)
Any good musician will always attempt to keep the beginners mind in some fashion. If you're attempting to learn you're forever growing. The second you think you've got it all figured out you're stagnant. The beginner's mind is a gold mine.
Well said
Agreed. Based on his description of the categories I'm definitely an advanced player. However, I still spend most of my time working on new techniques and concepts as a beginner would.
Growth mindset
I read about this the other day. There is two types brains. One thinks bottom up. Get all the detail then build up and see where they end up. This mind set isn't finished when the figure it out. Then top down type brains. They figure out outline with in limits creating a big picture of what should look like. Once they have it all figured out they done. Most people are top down types. Example of bottom up people are artistic people that don't know what they are painting till the painting is done. Imagine the with guitar, playing something and not knowing what it will be till it's done. Love to play like that.
absolutely agree, its all in your head
Intermediate.
As the saying goes. When I was a young man I wanted to play the guitar badly. Now I am older, I have achieved that aim.
😅 sweet.
🤣🤣🤣
😂
Same category here :) intermediate after 10 years of playing . Although the way Rob put it I might be more advanced than I thought. Still a long way to go. Never ending journey . Nicely put btw 😂
Then there is "EXPERT!"
been playing for 20+ years, still a beginner! :)
43 years for me. Never fully grasped it. Just about becoming a beginner.
I've only been a beginner for 37 years 😂 I do love gear though 😯
I can play along to a bit of acdc then it's stops...its been like that for many years...😂
@@neilkeepingitrealI was a bit like that then I started breaking on through to the other side , a bit .
Advanced but no shredder. Been playing for 40+ years and still learning new stuff.
I've been playing for over 40 years and still count myself as beginner since I am always learning new things about the guitar.
Everyone is a beginner. There are no 'advanced' players, except in their own little minds!
I’ve been playing over 30 years and still see myself as just scratching the surface of playing the guitar and understanding music … it’s a lifelong quest to me that I’ll never get tired with.
Almost 50 and I’m a beginner, in life and especially the guitar. Proud of it!
Doesn’t matter about age as long as you enjoy the learning, I’ve even gone back to basics to discover that there’s better more comfortable ways to hold a pick, I’m 38 and been playing since 15 and still go back to basics and discover something new
Same I’m 45 this year, played a little in my teens but not touched a guitar in over 20yrs, so just starting my journey now
Are you like me? I started learning guitar because I can't afford a motorcycle. 😆
Beginnermediate! Is that a thing? If it is that would be me after 30years of noodling and only recently trying seriously to play for realsies
Been playing for about 8 years now and somehow feel like a beginner, intermediate and advanced player at the same time. Learning new things every day along with new ways to apply them
That's funny i feel "kind of the same", and been playing for about 10 years.
If you do the same as me and start now learning what you are actualy doing after 9 years of random self tought playing it will be much easyer cause you have a much better ear than most beginers.
You're probably an intermediate guitar player with holes in your knowledge. I feel exactly like that.
At the start of the video, I believed I was an intermediate player. By the end and according to you, it seems that I am an advanced player. I've never improved so fast before and without even having to practice. Thanks for that.
Hey Rob, I am 67 years on this planet. I've been playing guitar off and on for a little over fifty years. I taught myself how to transpose without having formal training. Sight reading is a bit beyond my skill level. One of my crowning achievements was figuring out Hotel California from the middle of the song out to both ends and embarrassingly still didn't know the notes the individual strings were tuned to. On another occasion I was attending a house party and was told to bring my guitar. I left the guitar in my vehicle while I checked out the calibre of musicians also attending. ( I knew one of them and he was a stunning guitarist). 8 consummate musicians in the room with several variations of stringed instruments fantastic music and no singer. My girlfriend at the time retrieved my guitar and once seen I was encouraged by the others to tune up and join in. I became the party singer encouraging all to sing along. It was a great time. After much music I was taking a break when an elderly gentleman approached striking up a conversation stating he was enjoying the music. I asked if he played, he smiled and said yes, piano. When he told me that he was the music professor at the local University I was instantly embarrassed and apologetic for butchering some of the tunes played earlier. He assured me that I did no such thing and said, " I cannot teach what you have. As good as those musicians are here tonight, they are not having fun with music as you are". (the musicians in the room were the professors students). I was humbled and honoured by his comment and took them for words of encouragement and promised myself to always have fun with music where learning and playing guitar is concerned. I love open and alternate tunings and dreamy chord arrangements. And Yes I am a student of guitar. still and always! I would say I am an Intermediate guitarist. Love your stuff Rob. Cheers!
The more you know, the more you know what you don't know ....
😊
good comment chrisjaillet
That's a beautiful story, I don't believe it happened but- beautiful, none the less. The turth is that playing by ear is no more fun than playing by sight reading- I've done both, both have value and their place. But ppl who seem to think formal training will somehow steal your soul- are morons. It's just not true- and I don't know of any music professor who wouldn't agree. It's akin to believing if you know optical physics a rainbow isn't as special to you- b.s.
I've been playing various instruments almost my entire boomer life and performed in various ensembles, but I've only been playing guitar for about 10 years. I read and understand music, but learning the mechanics of the guitar and how to translate what I learned on piano (one linear scale) to guitar (five/six different linear scales in parallel which vary by tuning) has been challenging and addictive. From that perspective, my level is a blend of competencies that are further complicated when considering musical genres and playing styles. Bottom line, I don't see a practical purpose is slotting myself into a generic level. Instead, I focus on what I want to continue to improve. From that perspective, I'll never stop being a learner, and that's the most useful level for categorizing my abilities.
I've been playing for 40something yrs., various bands, in studio, small live venues, countless jam sessions, about 30 or so completed original songs mixed & mastered, and never cared if I were a beginner, intermediate, or advanced musician. Never really thought about it to be honest. The only thing I did early on was play with other musicians who were much better than me. Like that I always had something to learn
Same goes for me.
I'm 58 now and still learning new stuff, still playing with pickers that I consider better than me.
@@nohillforahighstepper sure, makes sense to me. Nothing more boring or frustrating than playing with other musicians who are worse than you :)
@@rodnyg7952
For sure!
@@rodnyg7952
Every once in awhile, you find other musicians that can "just play", and a little magic happens, and something amazing is born. Those times are what keeps me playing...
@@nohillforahighstepper ya, it's kind of uncommon, but sometimes you find other musicians that just completely click with your artistic thinking and playing. For me it's always been others who play to contribute to the song rather than feel they have to always be the most important part in it
Been a beginning guitarist since 1968...and I still got a looooottttt to learn
I classify myself at the top end of beginner. I've been playing for 55 years but I never got any better.
Resonates with me too. Played for 14 years and consider myself as a really advanced beginner 😊 no time, nor talent nor drive to get any better
Similar, but I consider myself an advanced intermediate. I know all the notes and chords and theory, but could never move into the more advanced topics like jazz or improvisation. Can’t really write lyrics or melody. Don’t really have that great of an ear for it.
I had thought I as an intermediate player for some time, but later last year I noticed I had missed several important beginner skills. So I dug out my Hal Leonard guitar books and started working through the basics again, and already I am enjoying guitar playing more.
Done that a few times over the years
FLAC! HEAT!
I think I'm an intermediate and I teach for a living and play out most weekends.
Music/Guitar/ is my primary income, and I've still got loads to learn.
I know a lot of stuff, but there's way more I don't know and can't play.
I can't Guthrie or Gatton, or Martin Taylor
Ha ha what’s up Steve, nice to see you here man, I’ve seen you playing and you’ve got nothing to worry about ❤
@@RobChappers I'll take it from the ManChap! 😀🙏
You are way too humble.
But I like the way you are ... 🥰
@@oneirdaathnaram1376 Thank ya kindly pal 😀🙏 "Intermediate" might be a subjective term 🤔.
1 min you think you're great then you watch CZcams for 5 mins and realise... "Oh 😐... John Cordy Exists" 🙈
You’re definitely not intermediate mate , not from what I saw/heard the other day , definitely advanced 👍👍🤠🎸
Love the way Rob is non judgmental and it’s about sharing the individual journey and enjoying the experience. Great stuff Mr Chapman 🤘
Everyone is a beginner. My guitar teacher taught me when I was first learning “you don’t know that you don’t know what you don’t know.” So we are constantly learning. the cup is never full, but it’s also not empty.
Never stop, never stop learning! Even masters learn something everytime they play!
Randy Rhoads signed up for a lesson everywhere he went with Ozzy, AND his family ran a music school!
Never stop... always keep an open mind... everyone started laughing at jazz in the 70's until evh started channeling holdsworth, then everyone started listening to holdsworth and Coltrane. Never stop learning, always broaden your horizons
Been “playing” since 2010. I’m still a beginner. I will proudly proclaim that. I wish I had time to invest to make it to that next level but being a business owner and father to a 4 year old my time is spent mostly running scales silently on the couch at night unplugged while my family sleeps. The JCM800 sits quietly waiting for the day I can unleash its fury. Someday. Someday. Thanks for the content Rob! Watched your stuff for years!
Keep playing so when you have time you’ll be just that much further along. Oh, and stay healthy. It’s much easier to learn and advance that way. And you can start you kid too if they want. Music is great for learning anything else.
Im currently in the exact same situation! Been trying to focus all my "downtime" to just guitar and not being a potato in front of the computer like many nights might look like
My fingers don't like playing my acoustic much anymore and my ears don't like loud so I think that puts me in your category unplugged with my Strat LOL!
Remind yourself often that we improve in some way every time we play for at least ten minutes 🙂
@@Robert-Smith Nice! Epiphone Les Paul for me. I never played standing up so now I'm making the best use of my time trying to relearn everything while standing. Changes the hand position and finger reach immensely.
Guitar is my hobby, I love the way they look the way they sound, I love guitars in general. Been playing/goofing for about 6 years I’m an intermediate beginner and I’m stuck there.
I am a beginner / intermediate. 38 years of playing. But you say intermediate Rob! That makes me feel a bit better. But I have taken breaks for years. I own 9 guitars, 1 bass, 1 Roland TD-27 VAD 507 Drum Kit. And all the gear to record. I am in my Mid 50's. I used to play out at open mic nights in the late 90s and that was the best time of my life. I wish to get back to that. My good friend that kept me going doesn't want to play anymore. Finding friends at 55 years old that wanna jam is impossible. I am in some Facebook groups for open mic's but have not attended any yet. Some of them the kids are much younger than me. So I won't fit in well. But! Still going and I am happy I got into this in the the 80's. Good video Rob! Lifted me up a bit!
This was such a great video! I feel that someone needed to say this. I felt that it was very well stated about the different levels and where you are as a guitar player. I also enjoyed a lot of the references you used about constructing music.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🤘🏽
Just crossed from beginner to intermediate. Knowing how much more I have to learn before getting to be any good is pretty intimidating.
By your definition (which I enjoyed hearing and thinking about), I am advanced, but each day I feel just as I did when I first picked up a guitar: excited and trying to master ‘the next thing’.
I've been playing guitar for over 50 years, have performed solo and in numerous bands playing different genres (eg folk, country, blues, rockabilly, rock, new wave, pop covers, soul, jazz, etc), have jammed with some very well-known musicians, played fairly large venues (1500-2000 seats), a little radio and TV work, done paid sessions on a number of albums and taught guitar for a living at various points in the last twenty years (including now). In my head, though, I'm still an intermediate player (although with some advanced traits) when compared to some of the guitarists I've played with. My big advantage, though - and probably the reason why I've worked more than people I've played with who were more technically proficient than I was - was that early on I knew that I needed to understand enough music theory to allow me to play anywhere on the fretboard and be able to follow chord progressions and improvise in any key (whatever style I was playing), so over the years I taught myself. I also took whatever work came along, and didn't limit myself to any particular musical genre, and discovered that I could often import something that worked in one genre into others, where it sounded completely different. I don't know why so many younger players seem to be almost obsessed with obscure modes and techniques such as shredding - professional violinists and cellists don't have arguments about who is the fastest player, because that's probably the least important aspect of playing. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was from an older guitar player I played with in a band back in the late 70s. He said that all music consists of two things: the sounds you make and the silences that come between them, and each is as important as the other. This is really, really good advice for anyone learning how to play.
Very interesting video thanks for the upload!!
Thank you for clarifying this Rob! 🙂
I thought that I was an intermediate player but I now know I have a lot more work to get there. This is a great explanation!
“Know the emotions of the guitar builder at the moment” 😂😂😂 I 100% agree with all of this
After 20 years. I'm still a beginner...
I never learned how to play guitar properly in a school and don't had lessons. I learned everything by myself, read books and heard music over 45 years...and it was just a hobby. During the time before corona I was playing in 2 - 3 different bands, blues, rock and hard rock. Than, during corona lock downs, I was more interested in metal and low tuned guitars and I bought me a ml1 modern storm burst baritone and I love this thing. I will not really be a fast metal player, I can't play in this extreme speed, but I'm very interest in progressive metal. I made a lot of songs and instrumental stuff, but I'm not able to write it down properly... This is something I had to learn. So maybe I'm a beginner, an intermediate and an advanced guitar player at the same time 😉
I think the big difference is just I don't have to earn money with my guitar playing. So everything is relaxed. Now I'm 60 years old and I will try an 8 string guitar. This will be interesting and inspiring. My motto is: Do what you enjoy and what's good for you. 😊🤘
I also never understood why or how things happen in music. I just re-play what others do.
It is a very interesting thing to ask yourself as a guitar player. Because I feel like the “ego” wants to immediately go to advanced. But being a guy that literally learned everything I know by ear, there is probably so much beginner knowledge that would benefit my playing overall. So higher end intermediate would be my self evaluation even though there is so much chordal knowledge that I have yet to discover. But that’s what keeps you going! So many comments about having a beginners mindset so you don’t become stagnant, which is such great advice for any guitar player at any level. Just keep picking up the wood and wire baby🤘🏼
63 and have been playing guitar for much of the past 50 years, with a few years off for career and family concerns.
Still taking lessons for Classical and Jazz, focused on learning the fundamentals correctly -- and this continues even while advancing into more complex techniques and pieces.
Progress is slow yet rewarding. Not comparing myself with others brings peace. Focusing on being a musician first and guitar player second.
Been playing since 1981. Completely self-taught. Have done pretty well. Made a few records etc, been on a few tours blah blah. The light bulb moment for me was when I gave up trying to emulate what everyone else was doing and concentrated on my own strengths and developed my own style. I'm no genius but I can confidently say that I am the best at what I do! However, had youtube been around back in the day I would probably be a more "rounded" player but then I wouldn't be me! Although every time I play is a learning experience. Cool video. Very entertaining.
Interesting discussion. I’m in the category of players who’ve played for a very long time. Know my cords and can play along with songs of my favorite bands, however I lack the theory knowledge. Just now trying to grasp that, I would say I’m intermediate player but beginner at theory 🤣
After playing Bass,(Double and Electric) for over 60 years as both pro and semi and achieving grade 8 on pianoforte (classical) I am still learning from those whom I consider better at certain aspects of playing than I. Although no longer being able to participate at a pro level due to disability I still love to sit at home and practise techniques that I have not learned yet.
I completely agree with your assessment. I learned a lot of advanced music theory concepts early on but was basically navigating a maze due to a weak knowledge the notes on the fretboard. Not having the right pieces in place absolutely stifles your ability with any skill. I made it a mission to go back and master these concepts so I can finally feel like an actual guitar player. Great video!
I genuinely think, after watching this video, i am right in between intermediate and advanced. I know chord relations and western music quite well, i know many scales and can play them in most positions in all keys. I am able to write my own music and i make new music in a band. I play blues, metal, jazz, pop, whatever, and i learn most songs by ear. You gave me some confidence Rob ;) The thing that does not make me advanced yet, is technique (I think). I can't play super fast, i struggle with techniques like sweep picking and hybrid picking etc. I guess practice makes perfect
That's why they call it guitar playing, not guitar knowing.
@@EETMySheet Exactly. You've hit the point, I'd say. 👌
Interesting take.
I have no idea where I sit, but here's some context.
If I hear a note, chord, or riff, I can figure it out very quickly. Feel very comfortable in a band setting and can happily jam away. I've written a bunch of my own stuff that isn't awful (I hope 😅).
The big but is... I don't know what anything is called beyond the basics. I can hear what sounds right and know where to go, but not why other than "this sounds right."
Exactly the same here.
I’ve been playing guitar for about 10 years now, learning bits from different songs and building up skills that way.
I know the chord shapes but half of them I couldn’t tell you what they’re called, just they sound right when you play them.
The same with scales, i couldn’t tell you which notes they are but I can figure them out in a way that sounds right.
Part of me feels like I should go back and learn some more of the basic theory, but at the same time I feel like I’m unlearning the way I’ve learned to play
@@VenomsToxicTablet Definitely do the basic theory bit - if you don't, you'll hit a dead end fairly soon. If you're not sure where to start, begin with learning which chords exist in all the major and minor keys (eg in the key of C these are: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim). Then work out what all those damn numbers on chords mean - eg D6/9, Amaj11, Bb13, etc. Learn the fretboard from top to bottom. As a bare minimum, learn how to play the standard major scale, natural minor scale, minor pentatonic, major pentatonic and blues scale in as many keys as you can. There are lots of great YT channels that explain this stuff clearly. Try the videos on Ricky Comiskey's channel, for instance. Don't be daunted - it gets easier once you master the basics.
My guitar journey when I first started was about transferring my advanced keyboard skills to the fretboard. I could already improvise, create my own compositions, arranging those compositions etc so it was about learning the navigation of the fretboard and the techniques to manipulate the strings to be able to make the music in my head with a guitar. So many guitarists spend so much time learning the fretboard and the multitude of techniques associated with the guitar while their musicianship, understanding of harmony and melody fall short and thus they might never reach their full potential as a musician. If you have the understanding of music, the playing part on a fretboard will always flourish along with that knowledge. I think its first better to evaluate where you lie as a musician rather than a guitarist first which will help in one's musical journey whatever instrument you play.
I love this conversation Rob. Because as guitar collectors, we obsess over the material instrument. But then as guitar players, we look inward and the material disappears.
Thanks for this Rob. I struggle with guitar and had thought maybe I am an intermediate, but now feel comfortable saying I am an intermediate player.
You echoed something my guitar teacher told me about my song writing. I haven't written that many and frankly they all have the same vibe - minor. And he said one day I have a "tendency to float towards the minor side of things". I guess this is what you mean about having a sound. But heh, I'm an old guy, I've earned my sorrows lol! Thanks again for the video!
Been trying to learn on and off for years and never really thought of myself as anything other than a ‘Beginner’ but having just watched your analysis of the various stages of learning I’ve just realised I’m now probably classed as an ‘Intermediate’ guitarist.
Rock on Rob, It’s made my night.
I roam the vast realms of the intermediate kingdom. Thanks for this Rob!
a 20 year beginner
same here. Sadly😂
So do I, how do we do it?
Same here.. 20 years as well. I blame just not devoting my entire childhood/teenage years to just music.. it’s all coming together easier though when I really dig in on music theory and new stuff. It’s a lifetime journey that never ends for anyone really.
My level is 0 because I am a drummer.
Your level is not 0. If you can one string at the time, you can play. Plus you know/feel rhythm. Dave Grohl composes on a guitar while thinking like a drummer. Doable.
Chappers as a long time viewer, this is one of your best videos in memory. Thank you for sharing mate
I've been playing for over 30 years and teach guitar fulltime. I see beginner level as at least 3 levels. Intermediate covers around 4-5 levels. And advanced covers at least 10 levels or so. And an advanced rockguitarist can be a beginner jazz player at the same time. The beauty of the guitar is, that it's universe is so big - no single guitarist in history has been able to really fully master ALL of it's possibilities.
Intermediate. I've delved into theory, Barre chords (not a lot) and LOVE learning patterns. My favorite was when I found I could find an interval easily by learning where to move, one string at a time. Then, it was about connecting patterns to octave changes, which is still a fun challenge.
That all aside, the more I learn, the more I realize what an impossible task it is to learn/"master" guitar. I will nevermaster it. The best I can hope for is more understanding and to build on what I can do.
I'm a true old beginner. Still getting excited about learning 7th chords 🙂
Advanced. I picked up a guitar in 1972. I turned down a major label contract in 1990. Spent years on the road sleeping in vans. And there's STILL way more to learn than I'll ever have time to get to. I love the guitar, its limitless.
I played a gig with a band who's guitar player fell ill and couldn't play. I just asked the bass player what key we were in for each song. Had a lot of fun figuring things out on the fly. The crowd enjoyed the show. I'm intermediate.
After seeing this video I've reached the conclusion that it's very difficult to be a "fully" begginer, intermediate or advanced guitar player. I play in a band, we make constant gigs/rehearsals, and we love to both compose our own music and to improvise/jam on spot. I can deal with it quite well, i can improvise into any key, into different chord progressions, into different rhytms/styles and do it with my own personal sound/taste. But at the same time I still know many things that I can't apply freely in my playing, and there are many more things that I know only the basis or don't even know nothing about. In conclusion I guess we are "trapped" in a cycle of learning, applying and mastering the guitar, never reaching the "end goal".
And I think this is amazing. I mean, we don't need to know everything or be an absolute master at everything to be a good player or to make good music or even enjoy playing with friends for other people. And we also don't need to be bored because there's always something new to learn, apply and master. We're all begginers, intermediates and professionals in our own way.
Thank you so much for this! I've been calling myself an intermediate player for years. But after watching this, I feel confident saying that I am an advanced player. Thank you for the confidence boost!
Jeez....I've been playing years I'm 54). Been a rhythm guitarist in several covers bands & after watching this, I'm a beginner as I've cheated my way through my guitar playing days by only learning songs so now, I'm finally sitting down to learn the notes on the fretboard, scales, intervals as I reslise I need to know these things. Great video
I was expecting to be intermediate because I’m not a very technical player. But based on your definition of having the tools and knowledge to freely create, I’m definitely advanced. It helps that I have a vast musical background that I’ve built my guitar journey upon
I'm 57yrs old, playing for a year as a hobby and still very much a beginner. Useful and instructive video, thank you, Rob.
Thank you for helping me determine my skill level-I'm at an intermediate stage. I've developed some additional techniques like pinch harmonics and finger tapping, and I've also dabbled in Travis picking for blues. However, I still struggle to spontaneously create music, so I recognize I have a journey ahead to reach advanced level. It's been a challenge picking up where I left off after a 25-year hiatus-it's not as easy as riding a bike. I've essentially forgotten 90% of what I knew as a teenager. Despite this, I've made progress over the past year with lessons, but I know there's still a long road ahead to reclaim the proficiency I had in my youth.
Rock on...
I began playing guitar when i was about 12yrs old… I am nearly 60yrs old…. I had lessons and this enabled me and my mates to form a band, we were terrible, but, it was great fun. Over the years i got much better and in the early 80s started playing in London supporting some great bands like New Model Army, Billy Bragg, The Men They Couldn’t Hang, The Pogues etc. I even went for an audition for a band called The Sex Gang Children at Apple Music in Soho Square… a great experience, but i didn’t get in….. I do feel though that it was a lot easier to play live,especially in London and the surrounding areas. Today i just play for my own enjoyment, I’m fortunate to have a guitar room, with my amps, pedals and various instruments. How would i rate my progress? I have no idea… But, I ain’t arf enjoyed it and i still do. Charlie.
Excellent video Rob!
Given this definition I'm an advanced player, but when anyone asks me I'll say I'm a beginner. I'm always learning. . Great video Rob.
I am a beginner and have been for years, im going as slow as possible and making sure that Im making a point to having fun and enjoying every time I pick up my guitar. I dont care if it takes me 10 years to move away from that beginner phase, as long as im having fun and learning something new along the way im set.
I'm a solid beginner/ starting intermediate. Currently learning all the notes of the fretboard and starting to be able to play licks. It's truly rewarding to be this far but also what's to come is exciting as the guitar journey continues truly excites me!
As someone who is a guitar tech and a drummer primairly, I've always thought of myself as a beginner guitar player. I'm glad to see that that is the case still, but I feel much better about my lack of technical prowess being corelative to my ability to setup a guitar well.
This is a great video and explanation. Thanks Rob.
Beginner for sure. Started my learning process when I was 18 and it didn't take (didn't have the drive to push through the frustration at the early stages). Fast forward 22 years, I'm now almost 40 and I'm well beyond what I was back then after almost two months of work. This helps me know that once I can piece together the guitar "language" and form paragraphs then I'm intermediate. Once I have my own voice and can put together a full on short story of my own I've achieved at least low levels of advanced.
Thanks Mr. Chapman. If I have that wrong someone correct me.
I got my first guitar Christmas 2001 when I was 65 & started having lessons. I'm still having lessons because I enjoy them and get to learn new songs from my era - 70' & 80's mostly. I class myself as a beginner & always will be. Now I might have become an intermediate beginner & maybe on my way to be an advanced beginner, but I can't see that I will be able to achieve intermediate, nor do I really need to or want to .... I just enjoy what I can do and look forward to being able to do it better - the main difficulty at my age is remembering everything !!!!
Excellent summation. I'd like to add my own opinion; it is essential to develop the ability to learn and / or adapt an entire arrangement for any given song, and to be able to play it from the intro all the way to the ending. Although simple (and often overlooked), it is not as easy as it seems, and is every bit as important as staying in tune and hitting the right notes.
The guitar gives you the space and possibility to start an endless experiment with the sound. Thus however good you may become meanwhile you find yourself always somewhere in the middle.
I started playing guitar again at 44 years old and was never good at the guitar. I'm still not good at the guitar. I am getting better and noticing progress. Mostly I don't even try to learn songs. I'm getting to know the building blocks. Because several times a week I get music in my head. I can hear every note and beat and it's awesome. I'm very good with language so I always have words that go with it. I'm a beginner at playing guitar, and always will be. But I'm doing this so that I can all of this new music out of my head and put it into a tangible form.
3 years of weekly lessons and I’m still in the “sh$&” beginner level. 😢
But here’s the beauty of this. My instructor noticed that I never missed a lesson while I was attending Columbia Business School. He told me that because he saw how I would not stop learning he decided to take lessons himself. And this guy is incredible at guitar. So learning is key to success. And being a beginner is not a bad place to be.
Another fantastic video Rob. I did have to pause and get a second cup of coffee 😂.. so I've been playing for 40 years and I still enjoy learning or figuring out what I hear in my head versus what my fingers can do 😂.. and that's the fun part. I truly categorize myself as a student.
I've been an intermediate for 10 years! 😅 and will always be. There is always something new to learn.. that's the magic.
Gosh I love these " Guru " moments. Your playing is wonderful and your inciteful wisdom was a great boost on many levels. 💯👍🎸🔥 Thanks for your time and talents.
Thank you for this Rob. I always thought I was intermediate and would get really frustrated I wasn't improving. But a lot of my building blocks were lacking. Judging by what you're saying I am maybe upper end of beginner at very best. That is great context. Helps me understand a bit where to go from here
Relevant and really good analysis 👍
The Blues in A at 5:50 was a Blues in Ab. I've known SO MANY guitarists who get frustrated with their lack of playing progress - that they go out and get a new guitar, amp, pedal, tattoo, motorbike, leather jacket - you name it - EVERYTHING except looking at their playing. I know so many who show off their new gear but ONLY play nut position E7 chord. It doesn't occur to them that you can play E7 in many ways to suit different musical goals ! Many say they have thirty years experience - but they really have six months experience sixty times over. New tattoos don't help you find triads on the fretboard. For those who disagree and question why they should learn triads (or seventh arpeggios) think of this - EVERY LICK YOU PLAY COMES FROM - OR IS A TRIAD OR SEVENTH ARPEGGIO. It's handy to know where and what they are - so you can get better at using them. Licks don't come from the cabbage patch. Best of luck.💚✌
I’m 56, guitar playing is a joy but a frustrating journey at times… the more I learn the more I realise I didn’t know before!!! Thanks for the video… interesting about the 85 per cent thing…I’m def not one of them, but will keep plugging away regardless 😊
I know what the building blocks are, and I've built the kit as Lego intended. I'm now trying to take the pieces apart and assemble stuff on my own. I have a few simple designs of my own, but i don't have the ability yet to build everything I hear in my head. I think I an either a strong intermediate of a very beginner advanced guitarist.
One thing i know for sure; I am going to be learning for the rest of my life. And I don't know where the journey will take me, but I sure am enjoying the ride!
Thanks for contributing to the journey of all of us who check out your channel!
56 now. Been playing since a teenager. Learned a couple of the boxes of the pentatonic scale enough to jam with neighbor somewhat compenently. Couple of years ago decided to ditch all the electrics and steel string acoustics and go with the nylon for good. Definitely back to beginner!!
I went to uni for music and I would've considered myself an "advanced" or "professional" guitarist a few years ago. Like a lot of folks, I slipped out of practice and stopped playing for a while. It's incredible how far I feel I've slipped, I'm way more in the "intermediate" range now whilst I muddle my way back to a "professional" standard with my slightly hazy memory of what it's like to hold a guitar and create something with it...
Thanks Rob. I play the guitar for more than 30 years now and would have never considered myself being advanced. But according to your explaination I seem to be there. I have met so many players who literally shredded my into the ground, but most of them weren't able to write proper songs. I played with bands, wrote my own stuff. I don't do shredding, I'm slow as hell, but my own music flows and to me, that matters the most.
by this metric I would be an advanced player but let me tell you this, it definitely doesn't feel like that! I am constantly being humbled by the sheer musical prowess that you can see on a daily basis!
I really like this description because your definition of 'advanced' doesn't involve knowing ALL the theory, it just involves the development of your own voice with some theory. This makes sense, because we can for sure say that a great, idiosyncratic blues player is advanced, but they may not know all the modes etc. Good definitions, well considered!
Wow! This was seriously informative. I'm 67. I've been playing since I was 17. I think of myself as being in all 3 categories at the same time. I very definitely have my own sound and partly understand how I make it but I also find myself learning new things that someone who had been properly taught would have learned at a much earlier stage. If I was starting again I would probably set out to learn much more theory early on but would I enjoy it as much if I did that? Dunno! What I do know is that playing gives me pleasure which, so far, has increased the more I do it and I don't really care where it ends up. But if you're a young 'un, I advise listening to Rob. This guy knows what he's talking about and, who knows? You might end up being a proper guitar player instead of an old bus driver like me having a wee bit of fun in the spare room.
Good stuff Rob. Thanks
Thanks Rob! Made my day I play lead in a band but thought i was intermediate at best according to this vid im advanced awesome!!!
Johnny Ramone didn't do anything flashy but he still inspired a whole generation of people to pick up a guitar and rock out!
It's been 7 years, playing about an hour every day, and I'd go with early intermediate. I know the chords, I can build the keys, I understand how it all fits together, but I've just started playing with other people in the past couple months, and holy crap, that's a whole next level of learning to do. It's pretty fantastic. I look forward to never running out of new stuff to learn. I expect I'll be intermediate for most of the rest of my life.
I needed some grounding. Thank you.
After 40ish years of playing guitar, primarily as a hobbyist but with a few years of “weekend band experience”, I would overall consider myself to be an intermediate guitarist. But! intertwined within that intermediate skill level there are certain techniques/skills where I would definitely fall into the beginner category. So, unless someone has followed a perfectly crafted and detailed learning schedule to take them from beginner to intermediate, I reckon every intermediate player has elements of beginner in their ability. When all of those skill / knowledge deficiencies are ironed out and the musician can play anything at will, without fear or hesitation, then, they are “advanced” (in my humble opinion 😊).
A friend, Rick, and I had a garage band in the 60s. In the 90s we got back together. Rick and I were discussing modes. I wasn't that familiar with them. My daughter, who is a piano pedagogist, showed me on the piano very simply. I caught on immediately and showed the trick to Rick along with some other basic music theory my daughter had shown me. Although not all new to us, we both agreed we should have learned all this 30 years previously.
Don't call me advanced or even intermediate. As Will Rogers once said, "All men are ignorant, only on different subjects." We're all beginners to one degree or another. I hope none of us ever thinks we've reached the advanced stage. That being said, a good foundation is priceless. A drummer friend, Hank, asked me to join his band to play for his mother-in-law's 90th birthday party.
I met these guys the day of the party. We had never practiced before. The only other person any of us knew was Hank, yet we were all experienced enough that none of our listeners knew we hadn't practiced. Hank picked simply classic rock tunes. I knew them all. I would call out to the bass player "1-4-5 in 'C' " and he had no problem. The other guitar player was better than I was and only asked once what key we were in. That's not advanced or intermediate. It's only being a well-rounded beginner enough to where we could have been skilled intermediates if we had had more practice together.
You hit the nail on the head with this chat. The only thing that might be missing is the connection you may have with music to express your self.
What I like most: decoupling the knowledge gear (like the correct resistance of the perfect '59 PAF) and _playing_ the guitar and making music :-)
Excellent video. I love the way you separate gear knowledge from playing ability. I'm almost 70 and first picked up a guitar when I was 12. I think today I can still sometimes be a 'beginner' in some aspects and advanced in others. I fell victim to essential tremor about 8 years ago and that became humbling to lose accuracy and precision. But now I know what I can play within my limits and what I cannot. I play a lot more acoustic these days and use DADGAD as much as I do standard tuning. And strangely it has led to me being more creative than I ever was, writing many more songs than before. There is much more "me" in what I play and less imitation. It's not technically advanced but it is what and who I am. Thank you for your perspective and keep up the good work.
This is a great video! I have long wondered where I fit. I’m 62 and i have lived and breathed guitar since i was 12. Ive had plateaus that lasted for years and I’ve at times taken big leaps in a matter of weeks. I often think I should be way better for my time and love. This gives me confidence to call myself intermediate with some hope to creep into advanced, writing songs and developing riffs. I hope to keep improving and this gives me inspiration .Thank you!
For me the most important catergory is to be a "unique" guitarist - someone with their own distinct style whose technical ability might traverse from beginner to advanced and beyond.